Knowledge Translation

CIHR’s mandate CIHR is Canada's major federal funding agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system.

 The Health Care System is our largest knowledge-based industry in Canada (113B & growing…)  How can we extract value from research to yield a more cost effective and efficient health system, improved health & enhanced economic benefits?

Knowledge Translation –Proof of Principle Program Grants –Centres for Health Innovation

Knowledge Translation Challenges for knowledge uptake:  Poor or scarce evidence  Inaccessible, irrelevant evidence  Few incentives to use evidence

Imperatives for successful KT  High quality evidence  User involvement in shaping the research agenda  Cultural shift  Conducive environments  Demonstration projects  Pipeline of knowledge flow  Creativity  Alignment of resources

Shared leadership Effective KT requires partnerships with: NGOs Professional associations Multiple levels of government Technology transfer office Other funding councils who also have a role in KT

Stakeholder audiences Policy Makers, planners and managers Researchers Private Sector Organizations General public and patient groups Health care providers and administrators

Areas of focus RESEARCH ‘The study of KT’ PEOPLE ‘Increasing capacity in KT’ ENVIRONMENT ‘The doing of KT’

CIHR’s Role in KT To Date

Stimulating KT Research Bringing researchers and users together: e.g., CAHRs and IHRTs Studying areas of KT : The uptake of evidence Assessing the needs of various users Creating Institute tools: Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement grants (ICE) ACADRE program

Developing People Opportunities to learn about effective KT: –Centre for Knowledge Transfer (Edmonton) –STIHR Initiative –Science-writer scholarships –Policy research graduate student prize

Innovative Environments Bring people and ideas together International importance of Centres or clusters as a tool for KT CIHR’s demonstrated interest in creating Centres e.g., Centres for Research Development

CIHR’s Future Strategic Role in KT

 Stimulating Research: studying the strategies that promote knowledge uptake Continue to hold annual RFA competition of KT research

 Developing People : involved in the study and application of KT Continue to support training awards in KT for students, post-doctoral fellows, young investigators and scholars as well as create unique training opportunities

 Creating Innovative Environments : identifying the best evidence and developing methods of knowledge dissemination Creation of Centres for Health Innovation in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial agencies

CIHR Commercialization Part of CIHR’s mandate is to: encourage innovation; facilitate the commercialization of health research in Canada; and promote economic development through health research in Canada. 18

CIHR Focus on Institutions Strengthen commercialization in our universities and hospitals by: Supporting proof-of-principle research; Building intellectual property management capability and infrastructure; and Training personnel skilled in technology transfer and commercialization.

Proof of Principle program Supports research to establish POP of an invention/discovery (IP) to ascertain or improve economic benefit. Goal: facilitate and improve the efficiency of the transfer of knowledge resulting from CIHR funded grants and awards.

Proof of Principle program Description: open to researchers with contributions in the field relevant to the IP; supports research; supports tech transfer activities related to a commercial plan (with TT offices); awards up to $100 K for up to 12 mo.

Proof of Principle program Peer Review Evaluation and Criteria: Research and Technical Plan Commercial Plan  business opportunity  IP protection strategy  market awareness  feasibility of plan

Proof of Principle program Overview of 2001/2002 N.B. 92% of the unsuccessful applications had inadequate commercial plans.

Poof of Principle Partnered Program  New in 2003  Follow up to POP program  Must have investor support  Must be conducting peer reviewed research  12 month, 100K grants

POP & POPP Programs 2003/04 Launch; $4 M Full applications due Oct. 1/03 Funding Begins Jan/04 70 Letters of Intent received 7 POPP LOI’s

Centres for Health Innovation Bridge gap between research, practice and policy Promote a more evidence-based health system Influence innovation through commercialization of health research

Moving health research into action by: Centres: Design Bringing together partners: Provinces /territories NGOsPublic Industry Policy makers Researchers Health practitioners Creating clusters that break down boundaries: SectoralGeographic Disciplinary

Centres: Activity Knowledge synthesis – to understand the evidence - to synthesize and contextualize research, which includes: existing evidence: -national and international reviews and studies -qualitative and experiential evidence context and environment for policy and practice decision-making economic analysis

Centres: Activity KT Activity – Design, implement programs for effective use of knowledge through: creating opportunities for stakeholders to come together disseminating new knowledge implementing interventions – demonstration and pilot projects

Centres: Activity KT Research – to understand what works in KT through: monitoring uptake of new recommendations -E.g. “which provinces changed policies?” evaluating approaches – E.g. “which physicians adopted new practices - and why?” evaluating effect – E.g. “what are the cost savings?”

What will success look like for the Centres by 2007?  Increased access to high quality relevant knowledge  Increased KT research activity  High volume of appropriate user access

What will success look like for the Centres by 2007?  Significant level of knowledge sharing among Centres  Strong linkages between CIHR Institutes & and the Centres for Health Innovation  Implementation of positive demonstration projects across the country

What do we need to make it happen?  Multi-disciplinary teams formed with users and researchers around the table  Incentives for people to use evidence  Strong links with government – tied to priorities

Implementation PHASE 1: Potential teams given development funds to create proposal 04/05 PHASE 2: Full funding of pilot centres (limited number) 05/06 PHASE 3: Funding of more Centres 06 and beyond

Estimated Costs  Development Phase: $1Million  Each Centre: $2 - 5M (depending on size)  Network Costs: $.5M

Next Steps Appoint Steering CommitteeLaunch Centres for Health InnovationConsult with PartnersDevelop Centres

Conclusion = RESEARCH The study of KT PEOPLE Increasing capacity in KT ENVIRONMENT The doing of KT Improved health of Canadians Recommendation Annual RFA competition Recommendation Create Training Opportunities Recommendation Implement Centres for Health Innovation